Babes of JC – July8 min read

Is anyone else still recovering from the 4th of July festivities and in shock that we’re more than halfway through 2018? Yeah… me too! However, there’s more exciting news than time passing wayyy too quickly and hangovers that take too long to cure, and that is …*drum roll please* BABES OF JC! Yup, your favorite article is here – so sit back, relax, and get to know our babes of JC for July!

Lizzy Lightyear and Venus are sisters, known collectively as Big Hair Girls. They are artists and musicians and fixtures in downtown JC.

1. What do you currently do for a living and what is your dream job?

We own and operate a pet-care service in Jersey City called Pet Patrol. And we also make music as The Big Hair Girls! We’re lucky enough to love what we do; we love being entrepreneurs, we love being self-employed, and we love having the flexibility to pursue our creativity!

2. What is your favorite place to eat or hang out in Jersey City?

We both love Van Vorst Park, it’s like a little secret garden in the middle of the city. And Liberty State Park, of course. We’re big fans of Tidal Poke at the moment but we go through phases…we also love Koro Koro and Cellar 335!

3. How does it feel to be nominated as JC babes?

It’s an honor!! So many hotties in this town, we’re in great company!

4. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

Venus:

I can spit the first half of Bodak Yellow in Dutch!

I ride a skateboard

I floss religiously

Lizzy:

I’m am a trained pastry chef

I love crafting

I’m addicted to fruit and chocolate

5. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done or wanted to do?

Hahaha definitely can’t tell you the craziest thing on the record!

6. What do you love most about Jersey City?

Aside from the obvious that it’s a great location, we both like being part of a community, walking down the street & knowing everyone is a great feeling.

Brian Kulbacki is the Owner & Brewer (Entrepre-Brewer) of Departed Soles Brewing Company at 150 Bay Street. He’s also a proud Bergen-Lafayette Resident!

1. What do you currently do for a living and what is your dream job?

I am the Head Janitor at Departed Soles. My duties include brewing all of our beer, packaging it up, paying bills, cleaning floors and tanks, and most importantly, walking our brewery dog, Bogan. As far as dream job, it would have to be Brewing beer! Of course, if I couldn’t do this and happened to fall upon a boatload of money, I would like to own a Minor League Baseball team. I already have a name and uniforms in mind.

2. What is your favorite place to eat or hang out in Jersey City?

Can I graciously abstain from answering this one? Haha I don’t want to tick off any of our amazing accounts. But for real, when I go out in town, I go support the places that support my team here at the brewery (White Star x 2, Matthews, Atlas House, GP’s, Lutze, Barcade, LITM, Third & Vine, Ed & Mary’s, Piggyback, Fox & Crow, Porta, Corkscrew, Two Boots, Hudson Hall, Taphaus, Talde, John’s, Amelia’s, Pet Shop, Luna, Skinner’s, Hyatt, Double Tree, Latham House, & Harry’s). Of course, if I’m not there and it’s late at night, I’m chilling with local hero Kevin at O’Leary’s.

3. How does it feel to be nominated as a JCbabe?

I’m still pretty sure this is meant for my dog, since most people recognize Bogan far before me, but as a single dude, it is quite humbling and greatly appreciated.

4. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

Oh boy…

1) My first (unofficial) job was washing cars at a funeral home, when I was about as tall as the tires on the hearse…

2) I overuse ellipsis and “haha” to an absurd degree

3) Please check back for this one

5. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done or wanted to do?

At the ripe old age of 28, I invested every penny I had ever earned or saved and took out a loan twice as big as my college tuition to start a brewery. To complicate things, I specialized in gluten-free beer. After that… sky diving? And I still want to cage dive with sharks.

6. What do you love most about Jersey City?

Hand down, it’s the diversity. From the PADNA where I work, to Bergen-Lafayette where I live, Jersey City is truly home to an incredibly diverse community which also extends to the social aspect, as well as food/beverage world. From grilled cheese and gelato shops, to the delicious food of Mecca at White Star, to the “best pizza in NYC,” and possibly the best food at a dive bar ever at O’Leary’s (and they don’t even carry my beer, so I’m not playing favorites!) We still get plenty of haters in town for our GF beer, or beer in general because we’re not some trendy brewery, but I’ve always wanted to create “community beer,” where our lineup has something for everyone. It changes weekly, and we’ve got something for craft beer crazies, like our new sour, to traditional, like our kolsch or pilsner. Everyone, and everything, fits in Jersey City, and that’s what I love about it!

Monica Mateo is a 42 year old Dominicana. She moved to Jersey City in 2007 when it was just beginning the downtown JC gentrification. She collects vintage and new clothes. She has one daughter Chloe, and Chloe just finished her 1st year of college! She’s an entrepreneur with a short term rental hospitality business, a wig company Ezwigss, and a new lifestyle vlog ”Monica Makes Her 1st Million. She’s a busy woman who loves evolving as a human and being grateful for all the things she has manifested.

1. What do you currently do for a living and what is your dream job?

Currently, I run a short term rental hospitality business in Jersey City and Philadelphia. I also own a wig company, Ezwigss, and have started a vlog about my lifestyle and my journey to making my first million. As for dream job, I’m already doing it! It’s less a job and more of a feeling! Hustling, traveling and knowing that I’m in control of the outcome, I love it!

2. What is your favorite place to eat or hangout in Jersey City?

I have a lot of favorites but I’ve managed to narrow it down to… Koro Koro – they are awesome! I’m always on the go and their product checks all my boxes. Affordable, efficient, delicious and they have a great staff!

3. How does it feel to be nominated as a JC babe?

I love JC and I’m a babe, so it’s fitting!

4. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

1. Army vet

2. Youngest of 6

3. Loves cooking

5. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done or ever wanted to do?

Fall in love

6. What do you love most about Jersey City?I’ve found and honed in on my entrepreneurial gift here in Jersey City and I will always love JC for that!

Christian Masot a life-long Hudson County resident has been a professional artist for 18 years. Preferred mediums are tattooing, photography and painting. A consummate optimist… you’ll find it hard to catch this guy in a bad mood.

1. What do you currently do for a living and what is your dream job?

I’m a professional tattoo artist and proprietor of Roses and Rebels in Jersey City. I also paint fine art and freelance as a photographer. To be honest with you, I feel like I have my dream job. I wouldn’t change a thing about what I do. I wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember, I’m living my dream!

2. What is your favorite place to eat or hangout in Jersey City?

I would say I spend most of my time in my studio downtown, when I want to get some inspiration I will go down to the Waterfront and just let the inspiration flow, don’t we live in the greatest part of the country?! As for food, you can always catch me in Matthews, Kitchen Sink and Hamilton Inn.

3. How does it feel to be nominated as a JC babe?

It feels awesome! I can’t believe it’s so cool and I’m honored. I never thought of myself as a babe lol. I think it’s so cool what you guys are doing, it’s dope!!!

4. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

Fact one, I can paint and draw with both hands. Fact 2, I thoroughly believe in love at first sight. I told my friends I was going to marry my wife the moment I met her. Fact 3, I am a chronic sneaker head!

5. What do you love most about Jersey City?

The thing that I love the most about Jersey City is that it’s one of those places that is a living breathing thing. Jersey City has a pulse and heartbeat and an energy. I’m walking down the same streets that I skateboarded down 25 years ago and I’m just as in love with the city as I was then. Jersey City has an identity, it’s a real place with real people. It’s light years ahead in its diversity and we all make it work, together.

Have someone you’d like to nominate or want to nominate yourself? Email Info@chicpeajc.com!

About Tarol Jackson

Tarol is a jc native, book reading, coffee drinking, art, fashion and sports enthusiast. She is currently pursuing a degree in English Education but writing is her passion and events are her hobby! While Jersey City will always have a place in her heart you can catch her exploring coffee shops and boutiques in the next big city.